By Umar Nsubuga
Jennifer Tumushabe, a fruit farmer and, a resident of Kyabwanswa village, Kicwamba ward, in Kitagwende district says avocado yields are higher than those of other tree fruits.
She says the fruits are nutritious and the trees will give you shade in addition to acting like wind-breakers.
Henry Sekyewa, an agronomist says avocado types include cultivars, avilla, droson, I, II, III among others. He adds that they mature between 30 and 36 months.
Most cultivars are grafted or budded onto rootstocks. Sekyewa states that this improves the health of the tree, yields and adaptability to a wide range of soils.
Tumushabe explains that planting avocados requires little input and natural manure can be used. A reasonable organic matter content of good soil aeration is needed and a depth of at least one metre.
“Avoid soils with a lot of water because they lead to the rotting of roots. The trees need a temperature of not above 30 degrees centigrade and a height of between 1,200 and 1,800 metres above sea level,” she explains.
Too much sunshine can easily scorch the plant. When branches spread out, they can be thinned to reduce the density, so that the tree can bear heavy fruits, she says.
